My Semba (Meu Semba)
Hugo Salvaterra | Angola | 2026 | Portuguese with English subtitles | 93m
UK Premiere
X, an Albino baby manages to survive his contentious birth but loses his mother in the process. He comes of age, forming a bond with his fraternal brother and sister, Léle and Maria. As the working class in an African metropolis they face below minimum wage jobs and undignified working conditions.
Maria holds on to her faith and family values, Lélé fights fire with fire against the injustices of the metropolis and X, the poet, tries to make sense of it all, painting the city with words. When their father figure’s life is at risk, they each have to face their deepest fears to save him. With a nothing to lose attitude, X enters poetry battles where he finds new corners of his personality, and even the possibility of love.
Following the UK premiere of My Semba (Meu Semba), join us at Lochrin Rooftop Bar for our Festival Party inspired by one of Geração 80's cinematic characters, Angola's capital city: Luanda.
The My Semba film screening ticket includes access to the Festival Party. If you would like to attend only the Festival Party, tickets are available via Eventbrite.
The Spotlight: Geração 80 programme offers a rare opportunity to engage the collective’s distinctive contribution to contemporary African cinema through films that reflect their commitment to innovative storytelling, visual experimentation and authentic representations of Angolan life and culture. Lookout for the additional screenings in this programme, Air Conditioner and Our Lady of the Chinese Shop.
Join Geração 80 for a special masterclass on Thursday 29 October.
Spotlight: Geração 80 is made possible through the support of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch’ and their Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund.